A passenger is suing American Airlines for what seems like a horrific example of a flight attendant named Thor abusing his authority.
Woman Claims American Airlines Flight Attendant Violently Shook Her And Accused Her Of Blanket Theft
Nathalie Sorensen and her fiancé were flying on American Airlines from Dallas to Miami in first class. She was sleeping. Suddenly, she woke up to find a flight attendant was violently shaking her and shouting at her, “Wake up right now. Wake up!”
The flight attendant, Thor Zurbriggen-Roy, claimed she had “stolen” a blanket onboard because she was using two. While Sorensen was “crying and shaking hysterically” her fiancé yelled at Zurbriggen to get his hands off her and she mentioned she was using his blanket.
Rather than apologize, the flight attendant escalated the situation, allegedly saying:
“This is my airplane, I am the head flight attendant and I can touch whoever I want.”
The camera popped out at that point and Zurbriggen-Roy must not have liked being filmed, because he returned to the seat with a warning slip which apparently warned of consequences for unruly passengers. Sneering at Sorensen, Zurbriggen-Roy said, “You better watch out!”
Zurbriggen-Roy also called the cops and six police officers met the flight in Miami and escorted Sorensen and her fiancé off the aircraft. She was released after a short interview.
Sorensen is now suing American Airlines for over $1 million, claiming she was “embarrassed, humiliated and shamed” and that she “has suffered great mental pain, and in all reasonable likelihood will continue to suffer in this manner for the duration of her natural life.”
An American Airlines spokesperson said:
“We take the safety and comfort of our customers very seriously and we’re committed to providing a positive experience for everyone who travels with us.”
Yes, maybe you should start by firing Zurbriggen-Roy if the investigation reveals he actually did touch the passenger. Zurbriggen-Roy has been in the news before. He was one of the flight attendants who sued American Airlines for issuing hazardous uniforms. He was also arrested at Chicago O’Hare in 2015 for an unknown reason.
CONCLUSION
I’m not sure Sorensen will suffer a lifetime of pain over this incident, but my goodness this seems like a clear-cut case of flight attendant abuse. If everything went down as she and her fiancé stated, they deserve more than an apology and Zurbriggen-Roy does not deserve to be in a customer-facing position.
If you are considering signing up for a new credit card please click here and help support LiveAndLetsFly.com.
images: @averyandon / Instagram
No I don’t think Karen Sorensen will endure lifelong pain for this, at least not $1 million worth.
The flight attendant does need to go.
Demerits all around…
“This is my airplane, I am the head flight attendant and I can touch whoever I want.” Yes, blame that on 11/9. Unfortunately after 9/11 that is the attitude of most of the airline personnel. They feel entitled to make your life miserable if they decide to. They were given too much power to call cops, take people off planes, etc… for sometimes absolutely no reason. They may just need to say “the passenger made me uncomfortable” and that is enough to ruin your life. Now, just looking at the picture of the FA I would avoid any interaction with him.
Well, Thor is a thunder and lightning wielding God, so, sort of like most senior flight attendants. Should I act surprised?
I think this was a classic case of mistaken identity mixed with some pentup Bonvoy’d by Marriott postalesque rage.
Poor girl bore the brunt of sharing Arne Sorenson surname (Marriott CEO).
from reading this traumatic experience i am suffering severe mental stress and feeling great pain working today. i need a compensation of a great latte.
People in positions of authority frequently abuse that authority and lord it over people. Flight attendants have been emboldened to think they are security and safety officers instead of people who pour drinks and open and close aircraft doors. The public and police need to realize that there are two sides to a story and flight attendants shouldn’t automatically be believed. The public needs a means to contact police so they can wait for flight attendants at the gate. The ability to report an incident should never be one sided.
1 million is ridiculous and the life long anguish. The flight attendant should be fired and fined by the FAA (if what she said is true). There of course is an anti male bias in that we will tend to believe women more than men. Maybe flight attendants will have to wear body cameras now.
Lol “anti male bias”…yes, women do truly get all the benefits in society (income disparity, control over their bodies), men can barely keep up these days
All I am going to say is
She looks like a ….. act like a …… therefore she received such treatment from operating cabin crew
Of course, $1M is a ridiculous amount to expect from a lawsuit for an experience like this. On the other hand, IF it is revealed that the plaintiff is correct and this FA has such a history, this amount is probably what it’s going to take to get AA to take appropriate action …
Attendant should be fired immediately! Passengers should be rewarded and apologized to by airline! This is totally uncalled for behavior for a professional steward. Life is had enough right now, without a snarly stewardess assuming she’s on blanket patrol!
Do we have all the fact?
What happened to her lips, though?
OMG, she’s so hot. I can see why the FA had trouble keeping his hands off.
Not funny.
Maybe airlines should install cameras to keep all safe and reveal the truth for a better flight.
Unfortunately the airline industry attracts more than a few of these freak-show martinets , employed as FAs. That would be okay if there was a mechanism to weed them out…sadly that doesn’t happen and quite a few of them thrive, getting promoted as with this horror.
The worst of these AA ones would be unemployable with another carrier, with the possible exception of BA or QANTAS.
I’d tap that!
Thor should go back to where he came from. A Marvel comic.
Thor should be fired or allowed to quit. He probably has mental problems. American Airlines and the flying public doesn’t need or should be subject to him.
That an FA could have had an altercation at his base that results in him being arrested and he remains employed is shocking to me.
If I were to be on that flight, I wish I could just go beat the shit out on that man and punch that motherf******g flight attendant’s throat out until he feels unconscious. He should be fired from the airline immediately, get a huge fine from the FAA, never EVER have another job again in front of ANY kind of people, rots in prison for the rest of his f***ng life without the possibility of parole, and I truly hope that he burns in hell for ALL ETERNITY. I feel so sorry for the victim and her fiancee!
Hi Fred, please watch your language. I had to edit out two f-bombs.
Wow Fred I hope I never sit next to you on a plane.
The flight attendant should be terminated from his job immediately, receive a fine, and be arrested to go back to prison where he belongs. I feel very sorry for her and her fiancee on that flight.
Why am I imagining another version of this story? More like Little Miss Drugged out of her Mind LipJob didnt wake up when attendant asked her to wake up and sit upright in seat for takeoff.
The comment from AA that they take the safety and COMFORT of their passengers very seriously is the biggest lie of the day. Lol the could give a rats ass if you’re comfortable.
If it were so bad, why no one video it onboard? Not one? And lead FAs are called Purser, not call themselves “head flight attendant”…..
Let’s see what happens. My guess nothing.
flight attendants on american airlines are like american cops — corrupted by the power that comes with a uniform and filled with delusions of grandeur
I think we all know there are three sides to this story, hers, his and the truth.